William H. Remick

William Hammond Remick (October 14, 1866 – March 9, 1922) was an American banker who served as president of the New York Stock Exchange.

William H. Remick
President of the New York Stock Exchange
In office May 1919 – May 1921
Preceded by	Henry George Stebbins Noble
Succeeded by	Seymour L. Cromwell
Personal details
Born	William Hammond Remick October 14, 1866 East Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	March 9, 1920 (aged 53) New York City, New York, U.S.
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Wilson Moore ​ ​ (m. 1903; his death 1922)​
Children	2
Residence	907 Fifth Avenue

Early life

Remick was born on East Boston, Massachusetts on October 14, 1866. He was a son of Joseph Remick and Mary Ann Pickering (née Hammond) Remick.[1] Among his siblings was Joseph Remick of Pillsbury, Remick & Co. of Boston and Frank W. Remick, a member of Kidder, Peabody & Co. who served as president of the Boston Stock Exchange while William was president of the New York Stock Exchange.[2]

His maternal grandparents were Mary (née Kennard) Hammond and Captain William Hammond, who resided at Bolt Hill and was representative to the legislature, county commissioner and register of probate.[1]

After attending public schools in East Boston, he began working in the woolen business before going into banking.[3]

Career

In 1893, he became associated with R.L. Day & Co. in Boston. Two years later, he opened their New York office before becoming a partner in 1903. In 1913, he established his own investment banking firm, Remick, Hodges & Co. located at 14 Wall Street.[3] In 1917, he was made chairman of the second Liberty Loan drive Committee of stock exchange houses and continued as chairman during succeeding loan drives.[3]

In 1907, he purchased his seat on the New York Stock Exchange and in 1909, he was chosen to serve on the Exchange's Board of Governors, a position he retained until his death in 1922. While on the Board, he served on various committees, including the Committees on Laws, Finance, Stock Lists, Ways and Means, and as Chairman of the Committees on Insolvencies and on Admissions. From May 1919 to May 1921,[4] he served as president of the New York Stock Exchange.[5] The period of Remick's presidency of the Exchange was "exceptionally trying due to the banking situation in the Fall of 1919 and the strain on the credit structure of the country."[3][6] In April 1921, Remick stated to a group of visitors to the Exchange that "the gradual development of the country through the railroads and industrial enterprises was made possible by the liquid wealth of the Eastern section of the country." He added that "your Governing Committee is doing the utmost to safeguard the public in every way possible and that the code of ethics and the sense of fair dealing of the members of the Exchange is as high--yes, higher--than is found in any business of the country."[7] He was succeeded by his vice-president, Seymour L. Cromwell.[8]

A Republican,[1] Remick also served as a director of the Stock Clearing House Corporation, the Submarine Boat Corporation, the Electric Boat Company, the New York Railways Company, and a trustee of the Dry Dock Savings Institution.[3] At the time of his death, he senior member of his investment bank, Remick, Hodges & Co.[3]

Personal life

On October 7, 1903, Remick was married to Elizabeth Wilson Moore of Wilmington, Delaware at "The Folly" at Fort Washington.[9] Elizabeth, the daughter of John and Mary (née Wilson) Moore, was a niece of Mrs. J. Hood Wright,[10] studied at Michigan State University from 1891 to 1893.[11] Together, they lived at 907 Fifth Avenue, located at Fifth Avenue and 72nd Street, which was built in 1916 and was the first apartment building to replace a private mansion on Fifth Avenue above 59th Street. William and Elizabeth were the parents of two daughters:[1]

• Mary Moore Remick (born June 11, 1905)[12]
• Elizabeth Hammond Remick (born February 6, 1909), who predeceased William.[1]

He was a member of the Union League Club, the Metropolitan Club, the Piping Rock Club and the New York Yacht Club.[3] His wife was a life member of the Sorosis Club, the first professional women's club in the United States.[12]

Remick died of heart disease at his residence in New York City, on March 9, 1922.[3]

Legacy

• Crabmeat Remick, which was created around 1920 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City was named in honor of William Remick, then current president of the stock exchange.[13]

References

1. Cutter, William Richard (1913). New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation. Lewis historical publishing Company. p. 541. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
2. Times, Special to The New York (17 October 1926). "FRANK W. REMICK DEAD.; Ex-President of Boston Stock Exchange Dies After an Operation" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
3. "WILLIAM H. REMICK DIES OF HEART DISEASE; President of the New York Stock Exchange, 1919-'21, Was Ill Only Three Days" (PDF). The New York Times. March 10, 1922. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
4. Gage, Beverly (2010). The Day Wall Street Exploded: A Story of America in Its First Age of Terror. Oxford University Press. p. 151. ISBN 978-0-19-975928-6. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
5. "SELECT EXCHANGE HEADS.; William H. Remick Is Named to Succeed President Noble" (PDF). The New York Times. 15 April 1919. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
6. "REMICK NIPS PANIC ON STOCK EXCHANGE; President, in Moment Following Explosion, Rings Gong Suspending Trading. HALTS MILLING ON FLOOR Crokers and Messengers Surged Toward Centre to Avoid Falling Glass" (PDF). The New York Times. 17 September 1920. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
7. "STOCK EXCHANGE GREETS VISITORS; President Remick Praises Institution Before Audience of 200Out-of-Town Members. SAYS IT PROTECTS PUBLIC Code of Ethics and Fair DealingHigher Than in Any Business of Country" (PDF). The New York Times. 16 April 1921. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
8. The Commercial & Financial Chronicle ...: A Weekly Newspaper Representing the Industrial Interests of the United States. William B. Dana Company. 1921. p. 2034. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
9. Social Register, New York. Social Register Association. 1904. p. 384. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
10. "WHAT IS DOING IN SOCIETY" (PDF). The New York Times. 1 May 1903. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
11. University of Michigan: General Catalog of Officers and Students: 1837-1911. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan. 1912. p. 809. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
12. Michigan), Collegiate Sorosis (University of (1907). A Sorosis Book. Collegiate Sorosis. p. 30. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
13. "Crabmeat Remick". emerils.com. Retrieved 6 December 2019.